Construction activity on the Puppy Dog Coulee storm sewer project will transition soon to Phase 7B, bringing new traffic impacts to southwest Minot, according to the City of Minot.

Additional construction activity is scheduled to begin June 15 as part of Phase 7B and will result in a partial closure on 24th Avenue Southwest. The closure will impact the Dakota Plaza and Highlands Plaza parking lot entrances and 24th Avenue Southwest between Mall Loop Road and the east entrance to the Arco Gas Station. Businesses along 24th Avenue will remain open and will be accessible, but through traffic will be detoured to 22nd Avenue Southwest.

Crews will begin the underground utility work (storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water mains) and reconstruction of the portion of 24th Avenue between the Arco Gas Station and Mall Loop Road.

The temporary traffic shift on 16th Street Southwest will remain in effect as crews continue to work in Phase 9. No left turns from 24th Avenue onto 16th Street will be allowed during this phase. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and observe speed limits while traveling through the work zone.

The Puppy Dog Coulee project is a nearly $20 million storm sewer improvement effort that has been in planning since at least 2015. Phases 1-6 were substantially completed in 2025. Remaining work for the 2026 construction season includes:

– Phase 9 installation of concrete box culverts under the west side of 16th Street and reconstruction of the affected roadway. During this phase, traffic will be head-to-head using the two northbound lanes of 16th Street.

– Final striping and landscaping work will be completed on previously completed 2025 phases in the Highlands Plaza Strip Mall parking lot and near Dakota West Plaza, Hotel Revel and Easter Seals.

The project has a substantial completion date of Aug. 18, with final completion scheduled for Oct. 20. Wagner Construction is the general contractor, with a low bid of $19.68 million, which was 11% below estimates. The Puppy Dog Coulee drainage basin covers about 9,500 acres southwest of Minot. The system conveys storm water from west of the city, under 16th Street Southwest, through the commercial area near the mall, and to the Highway 2 & 52 ditch.